Ecomotion/Pro 2009
Race Starts in Serra do Cipó
Wladimir Togumi / 23.11.2009
The dirt road was very rough and the teams that are using trucks to transport bikes and equipment had to reduce speed to try and avoid pitfalls.
The start happened on foot, with a delay of 1:30, and the athletes formed a large compass rose until the horn sounded and they raced up the hill toward the PPO-A.
QuasarLontra was the first team to arrive in the PPO-C in which two athletes would make a zip line but there was a last-minute change and the teams could make the crossing of the river using a ferry or swimming. Wasting no time the Brazilian team jumped on the ferry and started pulling the rope that moved the boat to the other side.
There was just time for the ferry to be brought back when Medilast Sport came along with Nike ACG Russia. With teams coming together, the organization warned that the ferry should have three teams aboard before leaving, but when the first athletes from Team International Oskalunga approached, the ferry began to be pulled to the other side.
Frederico Gall stopped at the shore, but Mikael Lindnord didn´t think twice, he shouted "Let's go" and jumped into the water taking his Brazilian team mate with him and was followed by Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren. The four went boarded the ferry when it was almost in midstream.
Teams were still close together and they crowded on the shore waiting for the ferry. Those in a hurry swam, which was quicker and more refreshing in the 35 degree heta, which lasted all day long.
QuasarLontra still held the lead when they arrived in Lapinha in late afternoon. In 10 minutes the athletes made transition and went for a short pedal to the river Cipó, where the first canoeing section of about 60 kilometers began.
Navigation across the mountains changed the classification and the second place on PC2 was team Repelex Adventure Camp, followed by Trotamundo BMG.
The Russians are being forced to overcome new challenges every day. Besides the difficulty of communication (only one of the athletes speaks English), one of their cars broke down on the road to Lapinha and members of support crew were awaiting the arrival of a winch, while the athletes kept going on the race.
By midnight all teams had checked in at CP2, but some were making a very slow transition and preparing themselves for the long night time paddle section.
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